Reeves condemns Cameron's "stubborn and incompetent" government

Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves has hit out at David Cameron's "stubborn and incompetent” government after unemployment figures shot up by the highest amount in two years.Statistics published today show an increase in unemployment of 80,000 in the three months to July - the total now stands at 2.51 million.And it is young people who are bearing the brunt of the failing jobs market - 77,000 more 18 to 24 year olds became unemployed between May and July this year - that figure has now reached 973,000.The unemployment figure for women is now at a 23-year high as women continue to be hardest hit by redundancies.The Leeds West MP Ms Reeves said:

"These are worrying statistics but they don't come as a surprise - we have been telling the government time and time again they have to get a grip and come up with a plan for jobs but they have flatly refused to listen."David Cameron and George Osborne are damaging the lives of young people in places like Kirkstall, Armley and Bramley who are trying to get on but coming up against a lack of job opportunities and a government which is turning a blind eye.“And today’s figures show Britain’s women are bearing the brunt of redundancies. Women’s unemployment is now the highest for 23 years. In a year when the Government has cut support for childcare, 32,000 women have chosen to give up on work. That alone has cost us nearly £50 million in lost tax revenue. "Surely now this stubborn and incompetent government must see the harm they are doing, especially in areas like my constituency. They must take action to help not hinder the economic recovery so essential to help get people back to work."After all, they'll never get the deficit down if people aren't in work paying taxes."Liam Byrne MP, Labour's Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:"This is a day of misery on Britain’s jobs front. Today we have the clearest and starkest evidence yet that the Government’s plan for growth is hurting not helping Britain. Our unemployment is now climbing faster than the Eurozone, Japan and America and we are now losing three times more jobs than we are creating.

“The rise in those without jobs is the highest for two years. The number of young people out of work has surged up by 78,000 and it is women who are now being punished worst.

“Over a year and a half after the recession ending and with unemployment rising this fast, the deficit is getting harder than ever to pay down. This fast rising unemployment is helping push the benefits bill up by £12 billion, that’s £500 per household.

“Today we need far more than warm words from Nick Clegg. We need a sensible tax on bankers’ bonuses to help create jobs for young people – and a halt to this unthinking attack on Britain's childcare. Millions of Britain’s parents feeling the squeeze desperately want to work – but literally can’t afford to without help with childcare.”